مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Investigation of combined effect of zeolite and mercury toxicity on some serum biochemical parameters of Oreochromis niloticus

Abstract :

In the present work, serum biochemical parameters of Oreochromis niloticus were used to assess protective effects of zeolite (Zeo) on toxicity of mercury (Hg). For this purpose fish were exposed to 0.01 and 0.05 mg/L Hg and 0.01 mg/L Hg+0.01 g/L Zeo and 0.05 mg/L Hg+0.05 g/L Zeo for 4 and 21 days. Cortisol, glucose, total protein, sodium, chlorine and potassium levels were measured in blood serum. The statistically significant differences were determined in all analysed parameters of the fish exposed to mercury and mercury+zeolite mixtures. In the mercury alone, levels of cortisol and glucose elevated after the both exposure periods (P 0.05). The exposures of mercury+zeolite mixtures increased the cortisol level at 4 days and glucose level at 21 days (P 0.05). At the both exposure periods in the mercury+zeolite mixtures, it not determined significant change in the total protein levels (P 0.05), while they decreased in higher concentrations of mercury alone (P 0.05). In the exposure of mercury alone especially in its higher medium concentraion, levels of sodium and chlorine declined, while level of potassium elevated (P 0.05). On the other hand it was not determined significant alterations in levels of all analysed ions in exposure of mercury and in combination with zeolite (P 0.05). The results showed that zeolite partially or totally played a protective role against the toxic effect of Hg since the metabolites and ions levels of O. niloticus were higher in the mercury alone than mercury+zeolite mixture.